Mr. Speaker, victims have waited long enough. Every day their health deteriorates. It has been more than five months since the government supported our motion to compensate thalidomide victims.

After giving some hope to victims who have waited 50 years, the Conservatives have now forgotten them again. Supporting the motion is not enough. It is high time for the government to give us details on the compensation.

Does the government at least understand how its lax attitude affects victims?

Cathy McLeodConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and for Western Economic Diversification

Mr. Speaker, we do agree that it is time, and that is why each survivor got $125,000 in an immediate tax-free payment. We are committed to providing ongoing support to them. There is $180 million that has been designated for ongoing support for fewer than 100 people. Of course, there is going to be an extraordinary medical assistance fund. Again, we are committed to doing the right thing and we are moving forward in due process and haste.

Cathy McLeodConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and for Western Economic Diversification

Mr. Speaker, the health minister has been working in good haste with the provinces to develop a pan-Canadian strategy. What is really important is the research that is going to be done that the federal government is responsible for. We have $1 billion in neuroscience since 2006. We have 400 research projects investigating dementia this year alone.

In partnership with the provinces and territories, we are moving. I believe it is an important issue and we need to get to some good solutions. Research is an important process forward.

Mr. Speaker, the Federal Court has ruled that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans has not lived up to its responsibility to protect wild salmon. The court found DFO rules failed to prevent diseases from being transferred from fish farms into open ocean, raising the risk of our wild salmon economy that supports thousands of jobs throughout British Columbia.

Why did the Conservatives leave open regulatory loopholes that put salmon at risk for so long, and when will they finally close them?

Mr. Speaker, Canada's aquaculture system is one of the most rigorous in the world. Fish-farming licences are subject to thorough review and oversight as well as stringent regulations to protect our aquatic species.

The recent court decisions deal with two subsections of one licence condition associated with aquaculture facilities in B.C. We are currently reviewing the decision and the member opposite should be aware it is inappropriate to comment further at this time.

Mr. Speaker, five months ago this House voted unanimously for full compensation to the victims of thalidomide. There were 97 of them. They asked for a $250,000 lump sum and an annual pension of $75,000 to $150,000 depending on disability. To date, they have been given half the lump sum and zero for annual living expenses.

Since that broken promise, three victims have died. The minister's answer is she is working hard. Well, people are hurting hard. Will she give them the help they need now?

Cathy McLeodConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and for Western Economic Diversification

Mr. Speaker, I find it a little ironic. This member was part of the government for 13 years. They did nothing. We have a motion in this House. We have moved forward. We have given $125,000 immediately, tax free, and we are committed to having a solution that is going to serve these victims into the future.

Mr. Speaker, 250 metres from an elementary school in a Charlottetown neighbourhood is a range lighthouse owned by Fisheries and Oceans. It is of questionable structural integrity, yet DFO has allowed for the construction of a cell phone tower on it. Industry Canada's rules do not require that residents be consulted, and they were not.

This is not an isolated incident. Industry Canada's broad exemptions ignore the concerns of communities right across Canada. The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans could have said no. She still can. For once, will she listen to Prince Edward Islanders?

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member opposite for his question.

Let me say very clearly that Canadians across this country deserve a say in how their cell phone tower locations are identified in communities all across the country, including in Prince Edward Island. The new cell tower rules we put in place will ensure that homeowners and municipal governments are at the forefront of the tower placement process by ensuring that they are all consulted on all new towers.

Mr. Speaker, many families in my riding of Scarborough—Rouge River rely on OMNI television for their Canadian programming in their language. OMNI tells stories in which many Canadians of diverse backgrounds can see themselves and their communities represented, but recent cuts announced mean that OMNI will no longer be able to do any of its own news gathering.

What will the government do to ensure that these Canadians have access to media that covers their stories and keeps them informed about what is happening in Canada in their own language?

Shelly GloverConservativeMinister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages

Mr. Speaker, of course, our hearts go out to those who are affected by this decision, but this is a decision made by a private broadcaster. When it comes to the government, we have demonstrated time and time again our support for many of the languages across this country. We will continue to that, but I would suggest that this member pose that question to the private broadcaster.

Mr. Speaker, OMNI news was a key link for many new Canadians to each other, to their culture, to Canada, and to the Canadian way of life. Punjabi speakers in Surrey and across Canada are in shock.

News in Punjabi, Cantonese, or Mandarin engages new Canadians in our democracy. It builds bridges between our diverse cultures. OMNI's role is to foster multiculturalism. These cuts undermine the mandate the CRTC has given OMNI.

How will the government ensure that new Canadians who relied on OMNI stay connected and informed?

Shelly GloverConservativeMinister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages

Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome that member to the issue. We have been saying over and over again that there is a serious change in the broadcasting industry, in the media environment, that requires adaptation. This is, in fact, one of those decisions made by a private broadcaster because of the changes in the media environment.

We sympathize very much with those who have been affected by this decision, but our government will continue to support languages and those cultural communities through some of our programs through Canadian Heritage, like our building communities through arts and heritage program that supports many of the festivals, et cetera, that provide these opportunities across the country.

Mr. Speaker, families in my riding of Calgary Centre are excited about the family tax cut and the universal child care benefit, but they have questions. Will the Minister of State for Social Development please tell the House how families apply and what the new deadlines are so they can get their cheques this summer?

Mr. Speaker, one thing families should know across this country is that if the Liberals had the chance, they would cut the universal child care benefit. They think that families would spend that money on beer and popcorn. We know the NDP would also cut it, because they believe that only certain families deserve support. We believe that all families with children deserve support, and that is why we are delivering on the family tax cut and the expanded and enhanced universal child care benefit.

Families, about 200,000 of them, do need to apply. We have extended that date to May 15 so that they can apply. They will receive the benefit, because it is their money. We believe on this side of the House that Canadians deserve the benefits they should be getting.

More than 300 jobs were cut last week when the Resolute Forest Products plant shut down in Rivière-aux-Rats.

In light of this closing and of the closing of the plant in Grand-Mère a short time ago, does the government agree that it is important to create a national policy on the harvesting, processing and use of wood?

Kelly BlockConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources

Mr. Speaker, our government's balanced budget will continue to create jobs and grow our economy. We will continue to make targeted investments in research and development along with expanding and diversifying our exports to new and emerging markets.

However, do not take my word for it. The Forest Products Association of Canada has applauded our budget for its job creation measures.

Mr. Speaker, the City of Gatineau recently passed a resolution calling for a moratorium on the installation of community mailboxes. My constituents are outraged by the lack of public consultation and by the fact that Canada Post is acting unilaterally without taking into account municipal realities. Over 500 cities have now condemned Canada Post's attitude.

Will the government finally listen to what cities, including Gatineau, are asking for, or will it keep forcing people to use community mailboxes?

Mr. Speaker, Canada Post has a five-point plan to ensure that it returns to self-sufficiency. One part of that is to convert the last remaining one-third of Canadian households to community mailboxes. In doing this work, it is expected to work with the municipalities in siting and take into consideration the concerns of the people who will be having this change. We expect that it will do that in a very thoughtful manner.

In terms of the number of municipalities, it is very clear that the resolution that was attempted to be passed at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities failed miserably with respect to taking us to task for these decisions.

Mr. Speaker, Canada needs more than one million new skilled workers over the next decade. Unfortunately, there are still many young people who are looking for jobs.

Can the Minister of Employment and Social Development update the House on what our government is doing to ensure that young Canadians have every opportunity to receive the skills they need for the good, high-paying, quality jobs that are available?

Pierre PoilievreConservativeMinister of Employment and Social Development and Minister for Democratic Reform

Mr. Speaker, for years, limousine Liberals and champagne socialists turned their noses up at the trades. When we took office, there were not programs to help young people get into the skilled trades. There were plenty of grants for university, but none for apprentices, so we brought in the Canada apprentice grant. We have given out half a million of these grants that help young people get their skills and get their ticket so they can practise in 57 Red Seal trades that are in extremely high demand.

We are going to need one million skilled workers over the next seven years, and our government is giving the grants to the young people to fill those jobs.

Mr. Speaker, the St. Lawrence is more than a waterway. It is a great conduit of Quebec's history and development, but the federal government could not care less about it.

For example, in Beauharnois, the wreck of the Kathryn Spirit has been on the verge of splitting open since 2011, but nothing is being done. Supertankers are docking at the Tracy terminal even though ships one-tenth their size have broken their moorings during loading. Moreover, neither safety at the handling facilities nor the storm lines are up to standard.

Will the Minister of Transport finally do something to protect the river, make up for the federal government's blatant carelessness and step up to her marine transportation responsibilities—

Mr. Speaker, this government is very proud of its work and its history with respect to the St. Lawrence Seaway. It is an incredibly important lifeline into the heart of Canada's hinterland, and indeed, it allows us to move goods in a very efficient manner all the way into the United States from the ports in the Great Lakes.

Of course we look after it. We invest heavily with respect to the St. Lawrence Seaway and all of the ports along the river as well. Montreal, Quebec, and Trois-Rivières have all seen significant investment by this government, and we will continue to make sure that we look out for their best interests.